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“Put the stones down. I’m sorry about the Hamptons, but no need to attack us.” I take a sip of my beer and place it back on the table.
“I’m only really talking about you and Dom now. Enzo seems to have figured out what’s most important in life.”
“Anything else besides the passive-aggressive comments tonight?” I up the volume on my television.
“Nothing, but I’m coming up in a few weeks, and after making me spend every Sunday at the family dinner table with just Mom and Dad, you boys owe me.”
“I’ll make sure a couch at the Hamptons has your name on it.”
“Bed, Carm. Your bed. Without you in it.”
“Goes without saying. Why me? The other two left you high and dry too.” She’ll figure out when she gets there that there’s an extra bedroom for her.
“I gotta go call Dom now. You know, make the rounds so you all know you’re on my shit list.”
Thank God I’m not the only one getting reprimanded tonight by mini Ma. “Night, Blanca.”
“Night.”
She hangs up, and I chuckle while tossing the phone onto the cushion next to me, situating myself on my couch for the rest of the night to get Bella out of my head.
* * *
On the wayinto the office Monday morning, I stop next to my billboard ad. On the other side of the street is the redhead I can’t stop picturing underneath me—her own billboard advertising her FSBO services. She might be fully dressed, but she’s totally putting off the same vibe as my billboards do.
“She wants to play this way?” I grumble, opening the building door.
I jam my finger on the elevator button, tapping my shoe until it arrives, then I jam my finger on the button for my floor. As I walk down the hall toward my office, I know I should just go into my own so I can cool down, but I turn left into hers.
The unicorn-colored-hair girl with dark-rimmed glasses smile falters when she sees me. She pushes up her glasses and her fingers hammer away on her keyboard. “The cookies are gone.”
“I’m here for your boss.” Through the glass of her office, I see Bella on the phone. Probably ordering another billboard.
“She’s on a call. If you’d like to have a seat and wait…” Max extends her arm out in front of her, a fake smile on display.
“How long do you expect her to be?” But before she can answer, I see Bella hang up. “Never mind. I see she’s off.” I round her desk.
“Hey, you can’t just go in there!” She chases after me, but I open the door of Bella’s office.
Alarm momentarily flashes across her face until she sees that it’s me. “Carm? Why are you bursting into my office?”
Instead of standing, she slides her chair under her desk, hiding any glimpse of her long, toned legs.
“The billboard across the street… I thought we had an agreement?”
“And your billboard is allowed?” Max steps into the office, arms crossed, and slams her foot on the floor.
“I think Justin was looking for you,” I toss back over my shoulder.
She narrows her eyes. “I’m not dating your assistant. He’s the enemy as far as I’m concerned.”
Liar. But I won’t call her out on it in front of her boss because I’m nice like that.
“Excuse us, Max. I can handle this,” Bella says.
Max huffs. I’m surprised she doesn’t stick out her tongue like a toddler before closing the door behind her.
“You get all pissed off saying I use my looks for my ads and look at yours.” I point in the direction her billboard ad sits. If we had x-ray vision, we’d see it.
